Arc-lamp headlight.



R. FLEMING.

ARC LAMP HEADLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1905'.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

4SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Inve ntor Ri YW chard F eming oqtt'y Witnesses:

R. FLEMING.

ARC LAMP HEADLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1905.

901,432, Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig; 2.

Witnesses: Inventor'- d yffiw Richard Flemin v B Q. fi 4 1, y

R. FLEMING. ARC LAMP HEADLiGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-16, 1905. 901,432. Patented 0013.20, 1908. Fig. 3. 4' sinus-sum s.

ff W4 WMIMIHMHMHMIH Witnesses: nve t ,{fl Richa Fleming I i V -y R. FLEMING.

ARG LAMP HEADLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1905.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 4.

Inventor", FQichard Flem i ng,

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Witnesses:

[UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.RIOHARD FLEMING, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

- ARC-LAMP HEADLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented be. 20, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD FLEMING; a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arc-Lamp Headlights, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to headlights for locomotives, electric railway cars and other vehicles employing an arc lamp as the source of light.

The object'of the invention is to provide an arc lamp headlight of simple, rugged construction, strong enough to withstand the strains of rough usage and inexpensive to construct.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a headlight in which the arc is automatically struck and fed and maintained in a definite relation to the reflector, in which the electrodes are arranged in such a relation to the reflector that the maximum light is received thereby and reflected forward, and in which the parts of the lamp in front of the reflector occupy such a small space that a minimum number of the light rays is intercepted thereby.

The novel features of my invention willbe definitely indicated in the claims appended hereto the details of construction and mode of operation of my improved arc lamp headlight-will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodimentof my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the headlight broken away in part; Fig. 2 is a back view with the casing in section; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation; and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are details of the operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings the headlight consists of a cylindrical sheet-metal casing 1 supported on a suitable base 2 and closed at the back by a removable back-plate 3 and at the front by a door. The door consists of a rim 4 carrying a glass 5, and is hinged at one side as indicated at 6 and provided with a latch 7 at the other side. At the top of the casing 1 is a chimney .8 to provide proper ventilation. Secured to the inside of the casing are two supporting fingers 9 and a frame 10 of cast metal is provided with integral arms 11 11 which are detachably secured to the fingers 9 9 by screws 12 12. The reflector and all of the parts of the lamp are carried by the frame 10 and as this frame is readily detachable from the fingers 9 '9 the lamp mechanism can be quickly withdrawn from the casing of the headlight in order to inspect, adjust or repair any of the parts. The frame 10 has two fingers 13 formed integral therewith and extending forward parallel to each other and a trough-shapedguide 14 consisting of a strip of sheet-metal bent lengthwise toform a U is secured-between the arms 13 in an inverted position by screws extending throu-gh openings in the arms 13 and into the guide 14.

Secured to the guide 14 at its forward end is a yoke 15 the lower ends of which support a short rod on which a roller 16 is adapted to rotate. A rod 17 having a rack formed on its upper edge is mounted for horizontal move ment with its forward end supported on the roller 16 and its rear end supported by a yoke 18 secured thereto and extending over and adapted to slide upon-the guide 14. Above the rack rod 17 and movable parallel thereto within the guide 14 is another rod 19 having a rack formed on its lower edge. At its for- Ward end rack rod 19 is supported on and meshes with a pinion 20 which is pivoted in the arms of the yoke 15, and at its rear end the rod is supported. on and meshes with a pinion 21 rigidly secured to a shaft 22 mounted for rotation in arms 23 formed integral with the frame 10. The pinions 20 and 21 also mesh with the lower rack rod 17. Secured to the forward end of rod 19 but insulated therefrom is a holder 24 for the positive electrode 25 and holder 24 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 26 to which a lead 27 is connected. Secured to the yoke 18 but insulated therefrom is a holder 2'8 oarrying a rod 2 9/60 theforward end of which is secured a holder 30 for the negative electrode 31. It will be seen that as the rack rods 17 and 19 mesh with the pinion 21 carried by shaft 22, turning the shaft 22 in its bearings operates to move-the electrodes 25 and 31 toward or away from each other to cause feeding and to'strike the arc.

The mechanism for rotating shaft 22 will now be described. Secured to frame 10 is a guide 32 in which a rod 33 having a rack formed on one edge is vertically movable. This rack meshes with a pinion 34 rigidly secured to shaft 22 and is held in mesh with the pinion by a roller ,35 pivotally mounted in a support 36'carried by arm 23 of frame 10. At 1ts lower end rack rod 33 carries a weight 37. Rigidly secured to shaft 22 is a toothed wheel 38. On either side of wheel 38 and loosely mounted on shaft 22 are two arms 39 in which is pivoted a pawl 40 adapted to be turned on its pivot so as to bring the tooth of the awl into engagement with the periphery of tlie toothed wheel 38. One of the arms 39 is extended beyond its pivot and provided with an oflset 41 which is adapted to engage the arm 23 of frame 10 to limit the downward movement of the arms 39 and the pawl carried thereby. The arms 39 are extended below the pivot of pawl 40 and connected together, as-indicated at 42, and these exten- .s1ons form weights which assist in turning the arms about shaft 22 and disengaging the pawl 40 from the gear wheel 38. A rod 43 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the pawl 40 and at its upper end to the armature 44 of a solenoid 45 supported u on a s 46 secured to frame 10. The hol er 28 hich supports the negative electrode 31 is connected by a lead 47 to one terminal of the solenoid 45 and from the other terminal of the solenoid a lead 48 extends. back to the source of supply, insulated bushings 49 being inserted in openings in the casing 1 through which the leads 27 and 48 extend. A double-acting dash pot 50 has one member connected to the armature 44 and the other member to an arm formed integral with'the frame 10. Adjustably mounted in an opening in this arm is a screw 51 with which the pawl 40 is adapted to engage. A reflector 52, preferably of paraboloidal conformation, is secured to frame 10 and has a narrow opening cut therein as shown in Fig. 1 through which the rack rods 17 and 19, guide 14 and the rod 29-car ing the negative electrode extend. An in icator 53 is secured to the yoke 15 to indicate the pro er position of the arc with respect to the re ector so that the operator in trimming the lamp can position t e electrodes properly in their respective holders.

The operation of the lamp as thus constructed will now be described. When the circuit of the lamp is open the ends of the electrodes are in contact. On closure of the circuit, solenoids'45 are energized, armature 44 drawn up and pawl 40 turned on its pivot until the tooth of the awl enga es the toothed wheel 38. Furt er upwar movement of armature 44 lifts the pawl and thus turns the arms 39 upon shaft 22 and. the pawl 40 carries with-it the wheel 38 thus rotating shaft 22 to which wheel 38 is secured in its bearings. The dash pot 50 insures a slow .and smooth movement of the parts. Pinion 21 which is secured to shaft 22 and which meshes with therack rods 17 and 19 moves the two racks in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, so as to separate the electrodes 35 and 21 and strike the arc. The upward movement of armature 44, rod 43 and pawl 40 is arrested by the stop 51 which may be adjusted vertically to regulate the length of the arc and the current consumed in the lamp. The pinion 34 is turned with shaft 22 and raises the rack rod 33 which meshes therewith and the weight 37 carried by the rod. The weight 37 thus acts to oppose the lifting power of the solenoids; it tends to draw the electrodes together making the lamp a gravity feed lamp with horizontally-arranged electrodes. TlllS arrangement of the electrodes is particularly desirable in a headli ht for the reason that sincemost of the li t is derived from the luminous crater in tie ositive electrode, a larger pro ortion of the light rays is received by the re ector and reflected forward. As the electrodes Waste away and the resistance of the arc increases, the current flowing through the lamp and hence the strength of the solenolds 45 decreases and finally the pull of the solenoids is' overcome by the weight 37 and rack rod 33 acts through the inion 34 to turn shaft 22 in the opposite direction. This moves both of the electrodes closer togetherso as to maintain the normal arc and to keep the arc in the same position relatively to the reflector. The armature 44 floats magnetically and gradually falls as the electrodes are consumed until-furthr turning movement of arms 39 about shaft 22 is prevented by the engagement of the offset 41 on one of the arms 39 with arm 23 of frame 10. Further down ward movement of armature 44 after this occurs causes the pawl 40 to release wheel 38 and the weight 37 then acts through the rack 33 and pinion 34 to rotate shaft 22 and bring the tips of the electrodes together again when a new are is struck. It will be seen from the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, that the parts extending forward through the opening in the reflector are ver narrow and very'compactly arranged so tliat they obstruct only a small amount of the li ht.

I do not wish to be understood as 'mited to the exact construction which I have illus compensation is madefor the difference in ever, to employa positive electrode of lar er size than the ne ative electrode and in t is way compensate or the unequal consumption of the electrodes. consider within the scope of m invention and I aim to cover them in the c aims appended hereto. v

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by 'Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In a headlight, two horizontally-disposed rack rods, holders for electrodes car ried thereby, a shaft to which. said rods are geared, a pinion carriedby the shaft, a vertically-disfiosed rack rod meshing therewith, electrica y-operated means for rotating the shaft, and a casing inclosing the parts.

2. In a headlight, two horizontallyarranged rack rods, holders for electrodes carried thereby, a shaft to which said rods are geared, a pinion carried by the shaft, a vertically-disposed rack rod meshing therewith, a weight carried by the rod, electrically operated means for rotating the shaft in one direction, anda casing inclosin the parts.

3. In a headlight, two horizontallydisposed rack rods, holders for electrodes carried thereby, a shaft, a pinion carried thereby in mesh with said rods, a second pinion carried by the shaft, avertically-disposed weighted rack rod meshing therewith, electrically-operated means for rotating the shaft, and a casing inclosing the parts.

4. In a headlight} two horizontally-disposed rack rods, holders for electrodes carried thereby ashaft to which said rods are geared, a pinion secured to the shaft, a vertically-dis osed weighted rack rod meshing therewit a magnet and its armature, means actuated thereby for rotating said shaft, and a casing inclosing the parts.

5. In a headlight, two horizontally disposed rack rods, holders for electrodes carried thereby, a shaft to which said rods are geared, a pinion secured to the shaft, a vertically-disposed rack rod meshing therewith, a toothed wheel also secured to the shaft, electrically-controlled means enga ing said wheel to cause rotation thereof, an a casing inclosing the parts.

- 6. In a headlight, two horizontallydisposed rack rods, holders for electrodes carried thereby, a shaft to which said rods are geared, a pinion secured to the shaft, a vertically-disposed rack rod meshing therewith, a-

toothed wheel also secured to said shaft, a magnet and its armature, a pawl operated by the armature and adapted to engage said All such modifications I wheel to cause rotation thereof, and a casing inclosing the parts.

7. In a headlight, two horizontally-disposed rack rods, holders for electrodes secured to but insulated from said rods, a shaft, a pinion carried thereby meshing with said rack rods, a second pinion carried by the shaft, a' vertically-disposed rack rod meshing therewith, a weight carried by said rod,- a toothed wheel also carried by the shaft, a

solenoid and its armature, a pawl connected I to the armature and ada ted to engage said wheel to cause rotation t ereof, and a casing inclosing the parts,

8. In a headlight, two rack rods, electrode holders carried thereby, a shaft to which the rack rods are geared," a toothed wheel secured to the shaft, arms ivoted on the shaft on 0pposite sides of sai wheel, a pawl pivoted in said arms and adapted to be turned on its pivot to engage the periphery of said wheel, a magnet, an armature therefor pivotally connected to said pawl, and a casing inclosing the parts.

9. In a headlight, two rack rods, electrode holders secured thereto, electrically-operated means for moving saidi'ods to separate the electrodes, a movable weighted rod, means operated thereby for moving said rack rodsto bring the electrodes together, uides for said movable rod, and a casing inc osing the parts.

10. In a headlight, two horizontally-disposed rack ro'ds, electrode holders secured thereto, electrically-operated means for moving said rods to separate the electrodes, a' vertically-movable weighted rod, means operated thereby for moving said rack rods to bring the electrodes toget er, guides for said rod, and a casin inclosing the 1parts. I

II. In a hea light, two rac rods, electrode holders secured thereto, electricallyoperated means for moving said rods to se arate the electrodes, a vertically-mova le weighted rack rod, a inion' with which said rod meshes and by w 'ch it is connected to said electrode-holding rack rods, means for guiding said vertically-movable rack rod to hold it in mesh with said pinion, and a casin inclosing the parts. I

12. In a headlight, a frame, a horizontally-disposed trough-shaped guide, a yoke secured thereto, a pinion and a roller pivoted in the arms of said yoke, a rack rod movable within said guide and meshing with said pinion, a second rack rod also meshing with said pinion and supported on said roller, electrode holders secured to but insulated from said rack rods, and a casing inclosing the parts.

13. In a headlight, a trough-shaped guide, a yoke secured thereto, a pinion and a roller pivotally supported by the yoke, a rack rod movable within the guide and meshing with saidpinion, a second rack rod ilso meshing with said pinion and supported at one end by said roller, means for supporting the other end of said rack rod on said guide, electrode holders secured to but insulated from said mckrods, asecond pinion meshing with the rack rods, means/for rotating said pinion to position the electrode holders,

inclosing the parts.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of June, 1905. i

. RICHARD k FLEMING. Witnesses:

JOHN A. MoMANUs, Jr., HENRY O. W sTENDARP.

and a casing 

